I'm trying to replace the extractor spring on my 39-2. I can't drive out the retaining pin because it seems like a blind holel. I milled out the opposite side hoping to break through from the bottom. I don't dare go further. before I get some opinions on what I'm doing. Can't figure out what S@w was thinking.Gene

Welcome to the forum. Posting this illustration from the S&W armorer's manual just to confirm that you're going the right direction with the pin......

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I've bent a drift punch trying to drive this pin out. the hole does not go through! Thanks, Gene

The hole for the retaining pin does goes all the way through, top to bottom, at least on every 39 series slide I’ve ever heard of! Most gunsmithing directions suggest driving the pin up from the bottom. The spring hole is blind of course, to give the spring something to push into.

Froggie

Ummm you’re confusing me on the suggestion to “drive the pin up through the bottom”

Yes, if you are installing the pin. In this situation, he’s trying to remove it.

There is only one correct way to remove this pin and thus, the extractor: drive the pin DOWNWARD using the hole in the top of the slide. The extractor pin is a larger diameter than the access hole which allows you to tap it downward. Do not hog out the hole in the top of the slide.

Squirt some Kroil in there and after it has done it’s magic, use your punch to drive the pin down and out.

Sevens, I was going by the directions I had received (and watched on You Tube) but not followed. To wit, if you drive the pin up, you have less likelihood of damaging a visible portion of the slide. It worked when the guy did it on You Tube, but I’m sure he had already done it before and any damage had been done already. If that pin is tapered and inserted from the top, it would have to be pushed up from the bottom, otherwise it would have to be assembled from the bottom and removed from the top. What am I missing here? Did I misunderstand what he was doing?

Froggie

I was told once by Roy Jinks that all pins in S&W's are straight, none tapered.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

To remove the pin is driven down from the top of the slide. the pin hole is tapered large at the bottom small at the top of the slide. When installing the pin after it is driven just past flush of the bottom of the slide the factory used a rounded over punch ball shape to upset the metal around the hole to keep the pin from working out. I worked in the repair section for autos at the factory with Bob Gross and installed a few of these in 1974 for Eddie Mitchell

Hahaha if someone removes (or installs...?) an extractor pin through the TOP hole, they will forever have a pistol that will now eject it’s own extractor pin via the top hole.